Audiobook Review: Dirty Little Secret by Kendall Ryan
- KA
- Oct 17, 2017
- 5 min read
When I was asked if I had any interest in listening to Dirty Little Secret by Kendall Ryan I jumped at the chance, he seems like a cool chick (we're in an audiobook group together), so why not, right? Pfft! Nobody told me I'd literally want to throw my kindle fire across the room because book 2 isn't out on audio yet! What is this nonsense?**
**A day after writing this book 2 became available on audible :D
The start to a sexy new series from New York Times bestselling author, Kendall Ryan... She’s much too innocent for me, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting the sweet, young librarian. I’m dominating and possessive, and my control streak runs a mile wide. The way she looks at me—like I’m one of the heroes in the books she loves, like I’m broken, and she wants to be the one to piece me back together—it only complicates things further. I’m nobody’s hero. But there’s no denying my tragic past reads like one of her favorite literary classics. It’s raw. Visceral. Captivating. And together, we’re a perfect mess. How can I resist when the sexual sparks zapping between us set me on fire? The need to control, and claim her force my walls to come tumbling down, but when she learns about my dirty little secret, will my world come crashing down with it? The story continues in Dirty Little Promise - available now!
PURCHASE LINKS
Written by: Kendall Ryan
Narrated by: Zachary Webber, Megan Tusing
Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
Series: Forbidden Desires, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date: 09-08-17
Publisher: Kendall Ryan
Whispersynced at $7.49/ £3.49
REVIEW
Rating:
Story - 4.5 stars
Performance - 4.5 stars
Overall - 4.5 stars
Gavin Kinsley has been visiting the same coffee shop for a year, and each day he pretends not to notice the lovely Emma Bell, when, on a whim he leaves his business card, he never expects Emma to actually turn up at his escort agency for a job. Cooper Kinsley hasn’t seen his brother Gavin so affected by a woman in a long time, so, he comes up with a plan. Emma can work exclusively for them, she can escort them to functions and maybe it’ll be enough to wake Gavin up and see what’s in front of him. The only problem, Cooper might have bitten off more than he can chew when he starts falling for her too.
Kendall Ryan really knows how to get into a reader’s head and heart. And man, can she write a heck of a sex scene. I felt so many different emotions listening to this book. It’s a two days later and I’m still thinking about it, what happened, what could happen, how things are going to play out in the next book. I’m not sure my patience is going to hold out until the audiobook is released, I might need to grab the eBook to get my questions answered.
The sweet sexy librarian and the bad boy, you know I was going to love it, and I did. This book grabbed me from the first chapter and never let go. I had to listen to the book in one sitting because I had to know what was happening, who needs food or exercise when you are engrossed in a fantastic story? Not this girl! I did feel some of the details were a little repetitive at times, nothing major and it didn’t really interfere with the story, just personal taste, I guess. I feel like book two is going to break me, in the best possible way. I’m stocking up on Kleenex just in case.
The characters in this story are really quite compelling. I’ve been thinking about this for a day or two now and I loved the interactions and how each character was so unique and not at all what you’d expect. I loved Emma, I thought she was a sweetheart. She’d been through hell but didn’t let that dull her sparkle and her strength shone throughout the book. Yeah, she’s a librarian, but Kendall didn’t make her your typical librarian, which I loved, because what rulebook says they have to be sweet and innocent?
Gavin was such a complex character, he’d obviously experienced a lot of hurt in his life and now guards himself, to his own detriment. I just wanted him to open up to Emma and let her in. I may have shouted at him to tell her everything, that she’d understand. But when do characters ever do what I tell them? I liked the conflict he was going through, you get to experience that with him throughout the book, his head and heart pulling him in different directions.
Cooper, damn, can I have him? I felt so bad for him. Did he really stand a chance with the chemistry Emma and Gavin had? He is such a sweet man and I don’t know what is in store for him in book 2 (eek) but I’m already nervous.
The relationship between Gavin and Emma gave me whiplash, seriously, I wanted to take that man by the balls and…. ok, I’ll take a breath and calm myself. He drove me a little crazy. He’d be so sweet one moment and the next he’d be a total arsehole. I felt so bad for Emma, but at the same time, I was getting frustrated because she kept going back, although, he is kinda irresistible, so it makes sense. I was with Emma in her thought process, why couldn’t she pick the nice brother. Cooper was sweet and perfect for her. The chemistry between Gavin and Emma was undeniable and I think that is why even though Cooper was amazing, I was rooting for Gavin. You can’t fight against that sort of attraction. With that being said I am so excited to get the next book and see where the story leads, I hope that things can be resolved because they are explosive together and I’m a sucker for a happily ever after.
Both narrator voices complemented each other and worked perfectly together for the story. I’ll definitely be seeking out their combo in the future.
This was my first audiobook narrated by Megan Tusing and I really enjoyed her performance, on a couple of occasions it sounded like the characters had a southern drawl, but it was a kind of blink and you miss it sort of moment, enough to warrant a mention but not enough to impact the overall performance or knock it down a star. The switch between male and female voices was smooth and each voice was distinct. Megan was perfect for Emma; a sweet but commanding performance. I am really looking forward to listening to more from Megan.
This was not my first experience with Zachary Webber, that man has skill, I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. He narrates the POV chapters for both Gavin and Cooper. When I first realised that was going to happen I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it; if it’s another person, it needs another voice, right? Nope. Webber is that good that it didn’t require another narrator. Each character is so distinct and he really gives life to each one. His performance of Gavin was my favourite, he has that commanding tone to his voice that suited the character perfectly.
Connect with Kendall Ryan:
Connect with Megan Tusing:
Connect with Zachary Webber:
Comments